Court views Achuthananandan’s petition on sex scandal seriously

Kochi, Sep 23 (IANS) The Kerala High Court Friday observed that the petition by former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the Kozhikode ice cream parlour sex case will be looked into with seriousness.

Saying that several points raised in Achuthanandan’s petition were of a serious nature, High Court Chief Justice J. Chelmeshwar posted the case for further hearing Sep 26.

The court also observed that the petition had been filed by none less than a former chief minister.

The case related to the sexual abuse of a minor girl in the early 1990s and allegedly involving P.K. Kunhalikutty, who is now industry minister, was closed by the courts in 2006. Kunhalikutty was named in the sex racket being run under the garb of an ice cream shop.

Achuthanandan Sep 2 approached the high court requesting a CBI probe in the light of several new revelations which came up in February this year when his then government asked for a re-investigation into the case.

Appearing for the state government, the advocate general said even with a change of government in the state in May, the special investigation team appointed by the Achuthanandan government had not been changed.

He also informed the court that the police team is currently going ahead with its investigation and so far the statements of 82 people have been recorded and 54 documents related to the case have been perused.

The advocate general also produced the case diary and a report on the progress of investigation in the case, as asked for by the court.

Achuthanandan’s petition contended that only the CBI can come out with the real truth based on several new revelations made by the accused’s relative K.A. Rauf on how Kunhalikutty managed to escape law by allegedly influencing even the judiciary.